Washington, DC, November 14, 2024 – The annual event of ISSNAF (Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America Foundation), which brings together thousands of Italian scientists, academics, and technologists working in laboratories, universities, and research and innovation centers across North America, began today at the Embassy of Italy in Washington.
In opening the event, Italy’s Ambassador to the United States, Mariangela Zappia, highlighted that the granting of the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic is a top-level confirmation of the importance Italian institutions place on ISSNAF’s work.
In her video message, Italy’s Minister of Universities and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, expressed her appreciation for ISSNAF’s efforts, stating that it “serves as an important bridge between Italy and the United States in research, science, and technology,” which the Ministry of Universities and Research recognizes and supports “through direct funding to ISSNAF as a concrete commitment to supporting our scientific community in the United States.” Recalling her visit to the United States last April, the Minister emphasized “the Government’s commitment to promoting joint research projects, mobility, and institutional synergies between both sides of the Atlantic.”
“I am pleased to be here in Washington for ISSNAF’s annual event, which has chosen to focus this year on a topic—artificial intelligence—to which the Italian Government is dedicating particular attention. As the G7 Presidency and in the spirit of the Mattei Plan, we have indeed launched the Hub for Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development to promote a new partnership with Africa, leveraging the private sector; this was a theme we centered in the G7 Ministerial on Industry and Technological Innovation organized by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy in Rome last month,” said the Undersecretary of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Fausta Bergamotto.
In thanking Minister Bernini for the funding received from the Ministry of Universities and Research, President Zuffada summarized the main achievements of a year’s work focused on enhancing the international dimension of higher education and research in Italy. This includes creating a system that offers young people from Italy access to professional enrichment opportunities provided by ISSNAF members affiliated with universities and research laboratories throughout North America. “Thanks to our structured approach, leveraging a qualified membership willing to host students and researchers from Italy, we have begun populating our system with hundreds of members interested in participating to serve an increasing number of partner universities in Italy and create a virtuous cycle of higher education enhancement, enabling greater scientific collaborations.”
The event, held at the Embassy of Italy in Washington under the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic, allowed for an in-depth examination of the ties between Italy and the United States in the field of scientific research and innovation. Particular attention was given to artificial intelligence, chosen as the theme of this year’s ISSNAF event, and to the work of young researchers.
The discussion, which ties into the theme of the YI Embassy of Italy Award 2024 for significant contributions to research across all aspects of artificial intelligence, included remarks from Vincenzo Del Monaco, Deputy Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy and co-chair of the G7 Digital and Technology Working Group, and Eva Spina, Head of the Department for Digital Connectivity and New Technologies at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and co-chair of the G7 Digital and Technology Working Group.
The roundtable, titled “Promises and Risks of Generative Artificial Intelligence,” explored recent advances and challenges, offering a deep look at how to balance innovation with ethical and professional responsibility. The debate brought together academic perspectives and real-world implementation experiences in emerging and critical fields such as healthcare. Participants included Filippo Menczer, Professor of Informatics at Indiana University; Pietro Perona, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computation and Neural Systems at the California Institute of Technology; Karen Perry, Chief Solution Architect at Intel Health and Life Sciences (HLS); and Giorgio Quer, Assistant Professor of Digital Medicine at Scripps. The discussion was moderated by Elisa Bertino, Professor of Computer Science at Purdue University.
